Mario Vernal

Chilean soldiers try to survive in the desert after they are attacked by Peruvian troops. The 17 survivors are held together by the Captain. The Lieutenant is a civilian attorney who clashes with the Captain as he pursues the valuable rights to nitrate deposits in the area. When the fighting was over, 25,000 soldiers from Chile, Peru and Bolivia had perished while trying to secure the coveted mineral rights for foreign companies.

Directed by Pablo de la Barra, Queridos compañeros (1977) is a Chilean-Venezuelan political drama that delves into the fervent revolutionary movements of the late 1960s. The film follows a group of young radical leftists that struggle to change the Chilean political status quo. The production of Queridos compañeros faced significant challenges, since filming started in 1973 but was abruptly halted due to the military coup in Chile that year. Director Pablo de la Barra managed to save the film's footage but lost the original audio tracks. In exile in Venezuela, he reconstructed the sound with the help of the original actors, completing the film in 1977. The film offers a poignant reflection on the aspirations and struggles of a generation striving for systemic change, providing insight into the political dynamics of Chile during a tumultuous period.